File history in cloud apps refers to the automatic version tracking feature that records changes made to files over time. Unlike manual backups, this built-in version control continuously saves incremental updates whenever users edit or save documents. It differs from simple file recovery by maintaining a chronological sequence of versions, allowing you to see who made changes and when, without overwriting previous data. Most cloud platforms implement this transparently through background processes.

For example, Google Workspace displays a file's edit history with timestamps and contributor names, letting users restore prior versions of Docs, Sheets, or Slides. Similarly, Microsoft SharePoint and OneDrive offer a "Version History" panel where teams can compare or revert documents to earlier states after unintended edits. Project management tools like Dropbox Paper or Notion also employ this for collaborative content iteration.

Primary benefits include effortless error recovery, accountability for edits, and non-disruptive collaboration. Limitations include storage quotas for retaining versions and potential complexity when managing many revisions. Ethically, version histories provide transparency but require clear access controls for sensitive data. As cloud adoption grows, standardized versioning interfaces enhance productivity by mitigating data loss risks, encouraging innovation in collaborative workflows.